Anti-Hunters Will Attempt to Sabotage Florida's Bear Hunt With This Dirty Tactic
'Never in my life did I think I'd be a hunter,' Chuck O'Neal, president of Speak Up Wekiva, a grassroots organization dedicated to protecting the Wekiva River and its watershed, told Naples Daily News. 'Now that we have a constitutional right to hunt, I might as well take advantage of that.'
O'Neal was sarcastically referring to Amendment 2, Florida's new constitutional amendment that guarantees the right to hunt and fish for anyone with a proper license. Passed in 2024 with more than 67 percent support from the Florida electorate, the amendment protects individual participation in hunting and fishing. Also, it identifies these activities as the 'preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife.'
O'Neal and other opponents of the bear hunt argue that Amendment 2 makes it possible for them to purchase a license and apply for one of the black bear permits, which are likely to be allocated this year.
'We'll put in a few times or a few hundred times. It's an equal opportunity to enter this. I must admit, I'm not a good marksman. I may kill a bear with kindness,' O'Neal said.
However, the specific language of the amendment could complicate the protest effort. It may not be illegal to purchase a tag and stay home, but the coordinated effort to obstruct legal hunting access seems to run afoul of the spirit of Amendment 2, which was intended to guarantee Floridians the right to hunt, not just to purchase a license. If anti-hunters snatch up a large quantity of the state's available bear permits, it would rob others of their constitutionally protected right. It also strips the state of the management tool that the amendment prioritizes.
It's unclear how FWC would prevent anti-hunters from applying or if there would be any punishment for drawing with the intention of limiting hunting opportunity for others.
Adding to the complexity of the issue is Florida's application process. The state requires individuals to complete a hunter safety course before purchasing a license. If non-hunters apply for the black bear lottery without completing the required course, they won't be able to buy a permit, even if they are drawn in the lottery. This could limit the protest's potential impact (unless, of course, those applicants are willing to complete hunter education).
Read Next: Florida Just Approved a Black Bear Season. Connecticut Could Be Next
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission maintains the hunt is necessary to manage the state's growing black bear population and to mitigate rising human-bear conflicts, including a recent fatal attack on an 88-year-old man in Collier County. The FWC voted 4-1 to give preliminary approval for the hunt on May 15. A final vote on the proposed hunt, which would allot 187 black bear tags, is scheduled for August. The FWC was not immediately available for comment on whether the state has a plan to address protester-driven lottery entries.
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Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
Newsom's push to reduce fossil fuels is clashing with California's thirst for gasoline
SACRAMENTO — Three years ago, a series of political advertisements in Florida kicked off a war between Gov. Gavin Newsom and oil companies over blame for California's highest-in-the-nation gas prices. In a jab at Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Newsom ran ads contrasting Florida's conservative policies with California's liberal stances on abortion, education and LGBTQ+ rights. The Western States Petroleum Assn., a trade group that represents the industry, responded with a warning for Floridians about the cost of gas and electricity in Newsom's Golden State. 'Gavin Newsom is banning gas cars and shutting down California oil production,' the association's ad stated. 'California can't afford Gavin Newsom's ambition. Can Florida?' It turns out, the price of California's battle with oil — both politically and at the pump — may be too much for the governor and the state to bear. Now with two oil refineries expected to shut down over the next year, the Democratic governor has halted his fight with the industry he accused of price gouging and targeted in two special legislative sessions. A Phillips 66 refinery in Wilmington is slated to close by the end of the year and a Valero facility in Benicia announced plans to shut down in April. The closures could reduce California's in-state oil refining capacity by 20%, setting off alarm bells for the Newsom administration. Having fewer California refineries would increase reliance on foreign oil and drive up gasoline prices once again — a financial jolt for consumers that the governor wants to avoid. Instead of lambasting the industry, Newsom is now directing his administration and asking lawmakers to try to help refineries remain open. 'My optimism now is that this is a pivot,' said Catherine Reheis-Boyd, president and chief executive of the association. 'This is a turn.' In April, Newsom sent a letter to Siva Gunda, the vice chair of the California Energy Commission, requesting that he 'redouble the state's efforts to work closely with refiners' to ensure access to reliable transportation fuels and 'that refiners continue to see the value in serving the California market' even as the state transitions away from fossil fuels. Newsom included a request for Gunda to recommend changes by July 1 to the state's approach to maintain adequate oil supply. The letter was sent days after Valero notified the Energy Commission of its intent to close the Benicia refinery. Gunda responded in late June with a warning that the state 'faces the prospect of continued reduction in in-state petroleum refining capacity that outpaces demand decline for petroleum-based fuels' and offered industry-friendly suggestions to boost supply. In short, California's efforts to reduce consumption of gasoline have gotten ahead of consumer demand for zero-emission vehicles. Gunda said the state needs to increase investor confidence in refineries to enable them to maintain operations and meet demand. Newsom has downplayed the change in approach. 'It's completely consistent,' he said at a recent news conference. He's also not naive, he said. 'We are all the beneficiaries of oil and gas,' he said. 'So it's always been about finding a just transition of pragmatism in terms of that process.' His comments this summer have marked a noticeable change in tone from a Democratic governor whose climate change advocacy became synonymous with attacking the oil industry. Although now in limbo due to actions taken by the Trump administration, Newsom set a goal for 100% of in-state sales of new passenger cars and trucks to be zero-emission by 2035. In 2022, Newsom also pushed legislation at the statehouse that banned new oil wells within 3,200 feet of homes and schools. In a special session months later, Newsom urged lawmakers to place monetary penalties on excessive oil company profits. Newsom accused the oil industry of intentionally driving up the cost of gasoline as retribution for the state's policies to phase out dependence on fossil fuels in an effort to curb climate change. Lawmakers balked and Newsom backed off his initial request for them to pass an oil profits penalty. Instead, lawmakers gave state regulators more authority to investigate gasoline price surges and potentially place a cap on profits and penalize oil companies through a public hearing process. The governor called a special session redux in 2024 after Democrats pushed back on his request to approve new requirements on oil refineries in the final days of the regular legislative session. Lawmakers ultimately approved a state law that could lower gasoline price spikes by giving regulators the authority to require that California oil refiners store more inventory. Reheis-Boyd said the change reflects that the governor is realizing that reducing supply without reducing demand only increases costs. The 'truckloads of data' required from the industry through the special sessions also showed that refineries weren't gouging customers, she said, and gave state officials insight into why refineries struggle to maintain their operations in California. 'When Valero announced they were leaving California, the next day, their stock price went up. And that just says everything you need to know, right?' Reheis-Boyd said. 'You have to send a market signal that says, 'We're open for business here. We need you. We want to collaborate with you as we all plan for this lower-carbon economy in the future, but that pace and skill has got to match up.'' When California lawmakers return to the state Capitol next week to begin the monthlong slog until they adjourn for the year, industry-friendly bills await them. Among the considerations is Newsom's proposal to make it easier to drill new wells in oil fields in Kern County. His plan also would streamline new wells in existing oil fields across the state if companies permanently plug two old wells. Later this week, the Energy Commission is expected to consider pausing a possible cap on oil industry profits and suspending potential new state oversight of the timing of refinery maintenance. The state is also reportedly attempting to intervene to find a buyer for the Valero plant in Benicia. While the oil industry is hopeful, environmentalists are dismayed. California is at a crucial inflection point in its transition to clean energy, said Mary Creasman, chief executive of California Environmental Voters. With federal climate rollbacks, the world is watching the state. 'Now is not the time to retreat,' she said. 'Now is the time to double down and innovate the way through this. That's what this moment calls for. That's the leadership we need nationally and the leadership we need globally.' The must-read: California's redrawn congressional districts could be bad news for these Republicans The TK: Apple commits another $100 billion for U.S. manufacturing amid Trump tariffs The L.A. Times Special: Millions of Californians may lose health coverage because of new Medicaid work requirements —Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Sign up here to get it in your inbox.
Politico
a day ago
- Politico
How Florida's political disruptor spent his summer
Hello and welcome to Monday. JOHN MORGAN, the billionaire attorney and frequent disruptor of Florida politics, still isn't running for governor. But Morgan — who is nearly ubiquitous as the founder of law firm Morgan & Morgan — continues to find novel ways to broadcast his folksy and unique message and get the attention that could boost a possible run for political office. Take for example his decision to recently spend a half-hour sparring with a room of Floridians for the popular Jubilee YouTube channel. The video —provocatively titled '20 people confront a billionaire' — features Morgan weighing in on everything from his wealth to oppression in China and a revelation that he previously drug-tested his own children. The encounter has racked up nearly 2 million views and more than 11,000 comments since it dropped in late July. Morgan touched on his successful efforts to legalize medical marijuana and raise the minimum wage in Florida. He repeated the message he gave during a recent visit to Tallahassee — that income inequality is the No. 1 issue in the country. This eventually led to a moment where one of the people questioning him asks Morgan what stops him from helping the people in the room who are struggling with their bills. Morgan stopped, took a $100 bill out of his pocket and handed it to him. The Jubilee video came on the heels of a video posted in June by the School of Hard Knocks in which Morgan talks about what it takes to be successful and asserts he made more money last year than NBA superstar LeBron James. He was asked if he was ever — ahem — screwed over in business deals. He said he has been, then added, 'But I f--- back.' Both videos show Morgan talking about being raised poor and finding a path to success. At the end of the Hard Knocks video, Morgan asserted, 'I'm a lucky guy. Successful people pat themselves on the back too much. What they really should do is get on their knees and thank God.' Morgan's wealth — and blunt talk — would have the chance to upend 2026 if he were to take the plunge and run statewide. As Floridians continue to struggle with affordability, he has very sharp views about insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry. In the Jubilee video, he said people keep asking him to run for governor. When reached by Playbook last week, Morgan continued to assert that, if he were to run, he would not do it under the banner of either party. But Morgan, who is now 69, also added: 'Once upon a time being governor would have been an ego boost. But now my ego has been satisfied. And my children are my greatest accomplishment and pride and joy.' Morgan went on: 'So now doing this would be an incredible sacrifice … as would the job itself. But the direction of our state and country causes me to feel real despair … both parties. All or nothing. I only have so many summers left ... so I need to be careful and cautious, but not too careful.' 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More and more states have instituted these limits to keep students from being distracted when they're supposed to be learning, and to help teachers from having to get into a back-and-forth with students about confiscating their phones. They also want to curb social media use and instances of cyberbullying that contribute to mental health struggles. The phone restrictions come amid rapid technological advancements, with artificial intelligence on mobile devices able to answer test questions or write essays. What else is new: A school safety law has also been revamped this year. Last year, a law obligated schools to lock all their doors and gates when students are around, or to have staff at any entrances that are left unlocked. It was partially intended as a response to the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. But the law ended up causing other safety concerns and being logistically difficult once implemented; now, schools have more flexibility. 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'In a filing posted late Friday afternoon, Florida Power & Light notified regulators that it has reached an agreement with several of the groups involved in its rate case. The list of those groups included many business interests — such as a federation of retail companies, Walmart, gas stations and industrial companies — but did not include the state-appointed consumer advocate or other groups that represent residents.' ON SATURDAY — Florida celebrated its first ever Bob Graham Day in commemoration of the late governor and senator. A law passed during this year's legislative session officially designated August 9, 2025 as Bob Graham Day to match up with the date the Save Our Everglades program was founded. 'ALLIGATOR ALCATRAZ' AGREEMENT — 'More than a month after Florida opened 'Alligator Alcatraz' in the Everglades, the state and ICE signed an updated agreement spelling out how state corrections officials should handle federal immigration detainees at non-correctional facilities,' reports Mike Schneider of The Associated Press. 'The addendum signed this week updated a 2020 agreement between the Florida Department of Corrections and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that had explained how to handle federal immigration detainees at correctional facilities, but not at places like this new detention center. The update was made public Thursday in court papers in response to a civil rights lawsuit claiming that 'Alligator Alcatraz' detainees have been unable to meet with attorneys or get access to immigration courts.' — 'At 'Alligator Alcatraz,' did a detainee just faint or need CPR?' by Patricia Mazzei of The New York Times. — '36 hours before DOGE arrived in Broward, one city's commissioners gave selves 200 percent pay raise,' reports Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. — 'Coastal Florida farm is identified as source of raw milk that sickened 21,' by Kate Payne of The Associated Press. — 'Did politics help former state Rep. Amesty evade criminal charges?' by Annie Martin of the Orlando Sentinel. PENINSULA AND BEYOND — 'Hillsborough County schools remove LGBTQ+ book under state pressure,' by Stephany Matat of USA Today Network — Florida. ...HURRICANE HOLE... EYE ON THE STORM — 'A cluster of showers and thunderstorms that moved off the African coast last week became a tropical rainstorm Sunday morning near the Cabo Verde Islands. Further strengthening is expected and the rainstorm is expected to become a hurricane by late week. The next name on the list is Erin,' reports Elizabeth Danco of AccuWeather. CAMPAIGN MODE LAWSON SETS ULTIMATUM — 'David Jolly is on notice: He has three months to prove he's built a coalition capable of winning the governor's mansion or Jolly will face a challenge from Al Lawson Jr., the Democratic dean of North Florida politics,' reports James Call of USA Today Network — Florida. 'Jolly, a former Republican Congressman turned Democrat, is seeking to revive a lifeless Florida Democratic Party that has lost seven consecutive gubernatorial races.' RUBIO ALL THE RAGE — 'At least twice in recent months, President Trump has declined to formally crown Vice President JD Vance as the successor to the MAGA movement. 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Epoch Times
2 days ago
- Epoch Times
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